ECO-HORROR
Rust and Soles (2014) describe ecohorror as the “revenge of nature” following humanity’s negative and destructive interaction with the environment (Rust & Soles, 2014). The ecohorror theme presents itself through film and literature where aspects of the environment, weather, plants, and animals seek revenge and attack the humans. Additionally, it may not always be the case that the environment is seeking revenge; however, it could manifest as a consequence of “horrific things (humans have done) to the natural world” (Rust & Soles, 2014).
Although it may be disputed whether we as humans are part of nature or apart from nature, ecohorror focuses on the relationship between the environment and humans, and usually that we have brought the wrath of nature upon us.
​
The real terror lies in the realism of the subject matter.
​
Although many literary texts and films incorporate elements of the supernatural, the subject matter of ecohorror is based on things we all see daily: nature, plants, animals, and weather. Using familiar environmental elements intensifies the possibilities of the ecohorror event actually happening as it only requires a bit of imagination to see the horror come to fruition.
I only recently discovered the term “ecohorror,” but according to Rust & Soles, it has been around since the 1990s (Rust & Soles, 2014).
Now knowing what it is called, I can say that I have been fascinated with ecohorror since watching The Birds (1963) in my adolescence.
​
This site will take you through some aspects of ecohorror I found interesting, the Anthropocene, water, and the birds (and other animals).
​
Please follow my journey through discovering relevant aspects of ecohorror by clicking on the pit stop images below.
Pit Stops
references
About the Coves | Friends of the Coves. (n.d.). Www.thecoves.ca. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from http://www.thecoves.ca/about-coves
Anderson, J. (n.d.). A guide to eco-horror movies. Beside.media. Retrieved November 20, 2022 from https://beside.media/atelier/a-guide-to-eco-horror-movies/
Definition of anthropocentric. (2017). Merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropocentric
Featured birds: Rose-breasted and black-headed grosbeaks. (n.d.). Www.pennington.com. Retrieved November 28, 2022, from https://www.pennington.com/all-products/wild-bird/resources/grosbeaks
Hitchcock, A. (Director). (1963). The birds [Motion Picture].
Merriam-Webster. (2019). Definition of Anthropocene. Merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Anthropocene
Movieclips. (2011). Crows on the playground - The birds (5/11) Movie clip (1963) HD. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydLJtKlVVZw
​
Rust, S., Soles, C. (2014). Ecohorror special cluster: “Living in fear, living in dread, pretty soon we'll all be dead”, ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment, Volume 21, Issue 3, Summer 2014, Pages 509–512, https://doi.org/10.1093/isle/isu085
Simpson, C. (2010). Australian eco-horror and Gaia’s revenge: Animals, eco-nationalism and the ‘new nature.’ Studies in Australasian Cinema, 4(1), 43–54. https://doi.org/10.1386/sac.4.1.43_1
Squirrels Teaser Trailer (2014) - Squirrel Horror Movie HD. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 29, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7U2aVUAqPI
Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, April 16). The raven. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved November 28, 2022 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raven
Zemeckis, R. (Director). (2000). What lies beneath [Motion Picture].